Pirates vs. Braves (June 9): Fried, Braves aim for eighth straight win

After a so-so start, the Atlanta Braves are finally hitting their stride. Tonight, the reigning World Series champions will look to pick up their eighth win in a row as they welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Truist Park for the opener of a four-game series.

Last year, the Braves did not go over the .500 mark until their 111th game of the season. This season, they were 2-1 but were not over .500 again until this past Sunday, when they defeated the Colorado Rockies to wrap up a four-game sweep and claim their fifth straight win.

Their schedule is set to toughen up in a major way later this month when they take on the Giants (home), Dodgers (home), and Phillies (away) in back-to-back-to-back series. But with the Pirates (24-30), Nationals (21-37), and Cubs (23-33) ahead in their next three series, the Braves have a chance to potentially tighten things up a bit in the NL East, which the New York Mets currently lead by seven games.

In tonight's opener, NL Cy Young Award candidate Max Fried will look to tally his sixth win of the season, while the bats will look for another productive night after putting up 13 runs against the Oakland A's last night.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates (24-30, 11-13 road, 3rd in the NL Central) vs. Atlanta Braves (30-27, 16-14 home, 2nd in the NL East)
• Venue & Location: Truist Park (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022
• Time: 7:20 p.m. Eastern Time
• How to Watch Today's Pirates vs. Braves Game: MLB Network

Pirates vs. Braves Pitching Matchup

• Pittsburgh Pirates: JT Brubaker (2022: 11 starts, 0-5, 4.70 ERA)
• Atlanta Braves: Max Fried (2022: 11 starts, 5-2, 2.74 ERA)

Pirates vs. Braves Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other top reviewed and recommended sportsbooks may also be included in this article.

Moneyline

• Pittsburgh Pirates +225
• Atlanta Braves -275

Over/Under

• OVER 8.5 (-118)
• UNDER 8.5 (-104)

Run Line

• Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (+114)
• Atlanta Braves -1.5 (-137)

Can the Braves Avoid a Letdown After Big Night Against A's?

Last night, Atlanta belted four homers as part of a 13-run, 13-hit performance in an 11-run win over the A's. Entering the bottom of the fifth, the Braves trailed 2-1 but scored a dozen unanswered runs across the next three innings to put the game beyond Oakland's reach.

Based on results throughout this season, the Braves are not likely to find too much success at the plate against the Pirates tonight.

Last night was the seventh time this season that Atlanta tallied eight or more runs. Here is their output in the following game in the first six instances:

• 1 (lost)
• 3 (lost)
• 4 (lost)
• 1 (lost)
• 3 (won)
• 3 (won)

But if there is ever a chance for the Braves to fix that, it's against the Pirates, who give up an average of 5.38 runs per game on the road, which is fourth worst in MLB.

Brubaker has not had much success this year or in his MLB career, as he is 6-21 in 46 career appearances (44 starts). But he has been especially luckless on the road, where he is 1-12 with a 5.63 ERA in 24 appearances (22 starts). This season, he is 0-3 with a 4.39 ERA in six road starts.

The 28-year-old righty was roughed up a bit in his first June start, as he allowed three homers, six runs (five earned), and eight hits last Friday at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But four of his five May starts were pretty solid, and though he didn't get the win in any of them, the Pirates did get the win in the final two against the Cubs (home) and Padres (away). And while he is winless, Pittsburgh is 5-6 in his 11 starts. So, the Braves need not expect to have an easy night.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves Prediction and Best Bets

Pirates vs. Braves Prediction: Braves to win

Pirates vs. Braves Best Bets: Braves -1.5 (-135 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetMGM)

In their most recent road series, the Pirates swept the Dodgers in a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. But when they are 5-1 this season against the Dodgers and 3-15 against all other opponents who currently have a winning record, there's only so much that can be taken from their results against the NL West leaders.

Of the Pirates' 13 road losses this season, 11 have come by multiple runs. And of their 30 overall losses this season, 24 have been by multiple runs. So, the numbers heavily favor the Braves to cover the -1.5 run line in tonight's series opener.

There's not a great deal of difference between the number you can get at BetOnline and what you can get at other books, but in terms of the best number available at our recommended sportsbooks, the two above have the edge.

Other MLB Content on Betting News for Thursday, June 9

• Dodgers vs. White Sox Prediction and Best Bets for 6/9
• Yankees vs. Twins 6/9 Prediction and Best Bets